Coliform bacteria are a type of bacteria that may cause human diseases. So how can they be used to treat water pollution? In fact, they cannot purify water. Instead, the quantity of coliform bacteria can be used to judge the water pollution status and guide corresponding treatment measures.
Coliform bacteria were defined as fecal pollution indicator bacteria. Their abundance in water indicates whether the water is contaminated by feces, and the concentration level reflects the degree of water pollution as well as the potential health risks to humans. Therefore, monitoring coliform bacteria in water is of great importance. This indicator is mandatory for the Monitoring of Medical Wastewater, drinking water and other water bodies.
Then why were there news reports stating that E. coli can remediate water pollution? Such research does exist. A research project carried out by a university in Jiangsu focused on “engineered E. coli for copper ion adsorption in water”. The research modified intestinal E. coli to treat copper ion contamination in water environments.
Leveraging the natural advantage of common E. coli that can survive under moderate copper ion concentrations and be genetically modified, the research team developed a targeted system. The modified strains secrete glutathione, which adsorbs copper ions in sewage to achieve degradation and precipitation, thereby realizing wastewater treatment effects.
It is critical to distinguish between coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli (E. coli).
Coliform bacteria is not a taxonomic bacterial name, but a general term for a group of bacteria with similar characteristics closely associated with fecal pollution, and E. coli is a single species of prokaryote included in the coliform group.
In addition, routine Wastewater Monitoring is indispensable for disinfected and sterilized water sources. Coliform bacteria is a key monitoring item for hospital wastewater. The Modi WECT-900 Online Coliform Analyzer from Hangzhou Modi can be applied to real-time detection, to accurately assess the fecal pollution level of water bodies.
